Page 87 of Seeing the Scars

“I see.I promise I’ll have a talk with him when I can.He’s a good kid, though.She should give him another chance?”

“Hardly.Jules is a girl who knows how she should be treated now.I talked with her myself this morning about what someone deserves from the person they are involved with.Respect.What are you really after?”

“That gun Jacob Neilson used last night.Serial number led to an old report of a gun that was stolen.More than fifteen years ago.Ballistics are still out.But…I was wanting to ask if your brother or Kameron Neilson knew anything about it.”

“I don’t know why they would.Other than pleasantries in passing, if you could call them that, Cal didn’t associate with Jacob.None of us did.Guy is a real creep.”

“How long have you known the Neilsons?”He’d shifted closer as a member of the custodial team pushed a loaded cart by them.She could smell the woodsy scent of him.Damn it.He was far toohotto be such a toad.What a waste.

“Since…forever.Kam and Cal were friends before I was born, I think.Preschool.Kameron is a good man, so if you think he’s involved in something shady, you’re wrong.Why are you even on this one?”

“Just helping out.I know things are a bit pressed with you related to the victim, and with Masterson and Deputy Tyler, too.”

“Sure.Out of the goodness of the heart.Why are you always involved in anything that comes close to me?Explain that?What are you looking for from me?”

His hand wrapped around her arm.She froze.She did not like it when anyone touched her now.Especially men.Large, forceful, intense men like him.She looked up at him.And waited.She didn’t dare pull away.She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.She was shaking in his hold—she couldn’t stop it.And he knew she was.

“You’ll find out eventually.Tell me what you know about Jacob.”

“Not much that isn’t already out there.He’d tag along with Kam to our house occasionally.My mom banned him permanently when he was around eleven, and I was not quite thirteen.She caught him watching me in the shower.Guy’s personality hasn’t improved since.Cloe had run-ins with him, though.He harassed her for a month or so at school.Until Auggie’s cousin Holton rearranged his face.Lots of girls had problems with him—but Clive Gunderson just laughed it off as ‘boys will be boys’.Go back to the gun.Where did he get it?”

“Haven’t found out yet.Guy’s still unconscious.Will be for a while.All I know is that oneinterestingname popped when the serial was run.It was reported stolen seventeen years ago.Right here in Masterson County.So why has it resurfacednow?”

“Who was the original owner?”

“I’m still waiting on confirmation of that.”

And he wasn’t about to share.Figured.

“Then I’m not going to help you find the answers.”

Claudia yanked her arm from his and turned away.

“Grady.One more thing.”

She turned and just looked at him.“What?”

“You aren’t going to be able to avoid me forever.I’m going to find out your secrets.You can count on that.”

Claudia turned away and just kept on walking.Secrets?What secrets was he after?She hadn’t done anything wrong.She knew it.So why was he so hellbent on proving otherwise?

What had she ever done tohim?

Enough was enough.She was going to find out.